Interview by William Chan
The local Big Mouse Kids Drama Group is presenting its production “Box Monster” (盒子怪), a play that explores emotional themes. Mabina Choi Leng Chi, director of the play, talked about the play and the group’s Theatre-in-Education programme in an online interview with the Post last week.
Choi emphasised that Theatre-in-Education goes beyond mere performance for the audience. The actor-teachers, as she referred to the performers, engage in pre-performance research, lesson planning, actual performances, and interactive theatre experiences to involve the audience participants in exploring and reflective thinking on the events portrayed on stage.
According to Choi, under the guidance of the actor-teachers, audience members naturally interact with the characters, posing questions, resolving dilemmas presented by the performers, and sometimes even making decisions on behalf of the characters during the theatrical experience.
Regarding “Box Monster,” Choi noted that the play draws inspiration from a common phenomenon in daily life: the tendency to suppress negative emotions while seeking perfection in the eyes of others. The story revolves around a female protagonist who experiences the loss of true happiness due to the pursuit of validation by others. Meanwhile, her parents and school principal strive to help her rediscover genuine joy.
Choi highlighted the pressures faced by teenagers in Macau and neighbouring areas, including academic stress, personal challenges, and family dynamics. She noted that many young individuals lack appropriate outlets to release their stress and struggle to communicate effectively with their peers and family members, potentially leading to adverse consequences. Through “Box Monster,” the symbolic monster represents the fears and negative emotions we often avoid confronting, Choi said, adding that the play aims to resonate with the audience and provide guidance on coping with life’s challenges by embracing imperfections and accepting oneself fully, as a diverse range of emotions enriches our lives.
Two performances were held at the Macau Cultural Centre’s Black Box I last Saturday, drawing a near full house. Additionally, there are four upcoming performances this Saturday and Sunday, with two performances each day, all taking place at the Black Box I. Tickets are priced at 180 patacas each with various discounts available. To purchase tickets, visit https://forms.gle/31vYYencpR1JAjJ1A.
This is the Big Mouse Kids Drama Group poster promoting its show ‘Box Monster’.
